There will be those people who’ll say “thank goodness there’s football to watch again on the telly”, and an equal number who’ll say “oh no, not football again”. But what will the games look like?
Firstly there’ll be no spectators; there may well be some imported noises to prevent an eerie silence, but we should be able to hear the players’ and coaches’ voices. Will that be a good thing? Then will the action be full-bloodied? I’m sure that teams trying for Europe and those trying to avoid relegation will go all-out, but will that result in more injuries among under-prepared footballers? What will goal celebrations look like? Will players forget the restrictions, especially for a relegation-avoiding goal? Will the players and coaches argue with the officials as much? Hopefully the despicable, but sometimes necessary, spitting, will be outlawed, a new rule which could well be continued in more normal times.
It will look and feel very different – that is, if it starts at all. An outcome on the field of play is infinitely preferable to one decided by mathematics, a point that all relegation-possible clubs would surely agree with.
Rev Alan. Club Chaplain.
clubchaplain@scunthorpe-united.co.uk
